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Measure Guideline: Air Sealing Mechanical Closets in Slab-on-Grade Homes

Reference

Document covering two fundamental retrofit strategies for air sealing around air handling systems that are located within the living space in an enclosed closet.

Validation Study of Experimental Insulating and Air-Sealing Technology for Enclosed Roof Cavities

Reference

Research report that validates Pinhole Insulation®, offering a cost-effective, minimally invasive solution for enhancing insulation and air sealing in enclosed roof cavities, improving R-value by 60% compared to traditional methods.

Wrong - This IR image shows a lack of air-sealing around the door, window, and light switch that is allowing in cold air.

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Air Sealing Best Practices and Code Compliance for Multifamily Area Separation Walls

Presentation

Webinar describing the best practices for air sealing multifamily separation walls.

Air sealing wall between a porch roof and attic with 1 inch of rigid insulation

CAD File

Building America Energy Performance Brief: Air Sealing and Insulating Fireplace Enclosures

Case Study

Case study describing how to air seal and insulate fireplace enclosures in order to limit the large amount of air leakage that their presence can bring and obscure from view.

Building America Energy Performance Brief: Air Sealing a Flue or Chimney Shaft

Case Study

Case study describing techniques and options one has when trying to air seal a flue or chimney shaft.

Right: Spray foam air seals and insulates raised ceiling duct chase

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Spray foam insulation air seals the underside of the flooring of a home built on piers.

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Right - The service penetrations through the structural slab in this garage plenum are air sealed.

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The rough opening around this window is air sealed and insulated with nonexpanding spray foam.

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Right – All wood-to-wood joints are air-sealed with caulk or tape.

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CAD image for roof pipe penetration water and air sealing details

CAD File

Duct boots and other ceiling penetrations are air-sealed using spray foam

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Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Skylights

Video

Video showing how to use an infrared camera to check for skylight air leakage during a blower door test in winter.

Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Fireplaces

Video

Video showing how to use an infrared camera to check for air leakage around a fireplace during a blower door test in winter.

Radon control system as part of a water-managed and air-sealed crawlspace

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Right - Spray foam insulates and air-seals the stone walls of this unvented crawlspace.

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Wrong – There is no foam gasket or air-sealing between the sill plate and masonry foundation.

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Return ducts are air sealed with mastic, just like supply ducts

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Right - Section view showing how to air-seal and insulate a basement wall with perforated blanket insulation by installing it over air-sealed rigid insulation board to reduce condensation risk in the fiberglass blanket.

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This IR camera image of a skylight shows that the skylight shaft is well-insulated and air sealed. A poorly insulated and air sealed skylight would show purple cold spots and streaks along the sides of the shaft.

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Right – Several potential sources of air leakage into the attic have been air sealed; canned spray foam was used to seal around duct boots, along seams in the drywall, and along top plates.

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Wrong - This IR image is showing a lack of air-sealing is allowing cold air to enter the home around the windows and at the base of the wall.

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Garage ceiling with spray foam, flash air-seal, and batt insulation.

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Wrong – The batt insulation on this knee wall is not properly supported and there is no air sealed rigid backing to provide a solid air barrier.

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The grille in the photo on the left brings air into a return air plenum under an air handler platform. As shown in the infrared image on the right, the plenum is not air sealed so hot attic air is being pulled into the air handler closet.

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Measure Guideline: Air Sealing Mechanical Closets in Slab-on-Grade Homes

Validation Study of Experimental Insulating and Air-Sealing Technology for Enclosed Roof Cavities

Wrong - This IR image shows a lack of air-sealing around the door, window, and light switch that is allowing in cold air.

Air Sealing Best Practices and Code Compliance for Multifamily Area Separation Walls

Air sealing wall between a porch roof and attic with 1 inch of rigid insulation

Building America Energy Performance Brief: Air Sealing and Insulating Fireplace Enclosures

Building America Energy Performance Brief: Air Sealing a Flue or Chimney Shaft

Right: Spray foam air seals and insulates raised ceiling duct chase

Spray foam insulation air seals the underside of the flooring of a home built on piers.

Right - The service penetrations through the structural slab in this garage plenum are air sealed.

The rough opening around this window is air sealed and insulated with nonexpanding spray foam.

Right – All wood-to-wood joints are air-sealed with caulk or tape.

CAD image for roof pipe penetration water and air sealing details

Duct boots and other ceiling penetrations are air-sealed using spray foam

Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Skylights

Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Fireplaces

Radon control system as part of a water-managed and air-sealed crawlspace

Right - Spray foam insulates and air-seals the stone walls of this unvented crawlspace.

Wrong – There is no foam gasket or air-sealing between the sill plate and masonry foundation.

Return ducts are air sealed with mastic, just like supply ducts

Right - Section view showing how to air-seal and insulate a basement wall with perforated blanket insulation by installing it over air-sealed rigid insulation board to reduce condensation risk in the fiberglass blanket.

This IR camera image of a skylight shows that the skylight shaft is well-insulated and air sealed. A poorly insulated and air sealed skylight would show purple cold spots and streaks along the sides of the shaft.

Right – Several potential sources of air leakage into the attic have been air sealed; canned spray foam was used to seal around duct boots, along seams in the drywall, and along top plates.

How to air seal attic can lights – Rule Your Attic! with ENERGY STAR

How to air seal attic electrical boxes – Rule Your Attic! With ENERGY STAR

How to air seal attic plumbing pipe – Rule Your Attic! with ENERGY STAR

Wrong - This IR image is showing a lack of air-sealing is allowing cold air to enter the home around the windows and at the base of the wall.

Garage ceiling with spray foam, flash air-seal, and batt insulation.

Wrong – The batt insulation on this knee wall is not properly supported and there is no air sealed rigid backing to provide a solid air barrier.

The grille in the photo on the left brings air into a return air plenum under an air handler platform. As shown in the infrared image on the right, the plenum is not air sealed so hot attic air is being pulled into the air handler closet.